Horses are good company -- The Witcher

In June I had the privilege of attending SDS2014, the Society for Disability Studies conference in Minneapolis. SDS did a lot of things right concerning accessibility for people with disabilities. It did not appear that the organizers had put as much thought into economic accessibility. For instance, the venue was an expensive downtown hotel. The nearby restaurants were mostly sit-down restaurants. The convenience shop in the hotel had some bottled beverages and foods at airport prices. Lunch time meetings at the conference felt inaccessible to me, because I didn't know where to grab a sandwich or take out food at a place that I could afford to eat, and get back in time for the session. So I skipped the lunch time sessions; I need to eat according to a set schedule, as I'm sure many folks do. (Note that SDS' discussion of anti-harassment policies occurred during a lunch time session.)

Many academic conferences are similarly expensive, and do not seem to care about being affordable. The registration prices alone can be close to a thousand dollars. This is before hotel, travel, food, and any incidentals for conference participants. Presenters many want to get new clothes or travel gear, for instance. Many people attending academic conferences have their institutions pay for these expenses, or get grants or scholarships to cover them.

Check out two price listings for conferences, just as examples:
An epidemiology conference in Spain
Grace Hopper Women in Computing

I attended SDS as a community member rather than as an academic-- ie, not affiliated with an institution. A friend paid for the reg fee and hotel, and we carpooled there and brought some of our own snacks. SDS does have a sliding scale for their reg fees. Disability studies, unlike many other academic disciplines, values the role of community members and lay people because your lived experience counts. Your embodiment and activism count. You don't necessarily need classes, degrees, and publications to contribute. (I do have some independent-of-the-academy publications.)

My main convention and social event of the year is WisCon, a fan convention, which prioritizes affordability. Many of our affordability issues intersect with other social justice issues, such as disability access and emotional access.

For instance, WisCon provides late-night cab vouchers to get people home from the convention. I imagine the original intent of this service was safety: prevent drunk driving and the like, since alcohol flows fairly free at convention parties. But it also provides an affordable means for people to get home without having to pay for a cab or rely on bus schedules or friends, and means that some people can stay other places than downtown hotels, such as on the outskirts of town at their own or friends' houses or cheaper hotels. It provides independence-- the means to leave the convention when you want (also a safety feature). The cab service we use is a co-op and a union, allowing us to support a local business with shared values. And cabs can be reserved online, which is another accessibility feature.

All of these things intersect. Feeling like your finances are stretched and you can barely afford to be somewhere is stressful and adds to cognitive and emotional load. It means you can't be as present and contribute as fully as you might like. Worrying about affording a meal when you want to go out with friends or colleagues can be embarrassing.

So why are academic conferences so expensive? Not having organized one, or even gone to many, I really have no idea. Looking around on the internet, people say that the fee covers venue, food, and keynote speakers, etc. Probably professional conference organizers plan these things, and take their cut. But conferences can leverage their power as clients to negotiate better deals with hotels and convention centers. They can use university or public venues which are sometimes cheaper. First and foremost, they can simply think about how to lower costs and reduce the economic burden on their participants, instead of assuming everyone who comes is able to blithely afford it.

I do know that charging so much money functions as a gate-keeping mechanism to keep people out. It creates a space where the conference itself is an in-club for people who can afford to be there: a country club effect. The privileged rub elbows and make connections with each other.

This affects the quality of academics. Science, my field of employ, has a myriad of problems with diversity. These things are connected.

I hope you all know by now that language and its effects are an issue near and dear to my heart. Language can be hostile or welcoming, centering or othering. This is particularly on my mind as I look at various "accessibility" policies for conventions in the SF/F world.

I am creating List of such conventions for the Geek Feminism Wiki. (This was inspired by their List of cons with anti-harassment policies.)

First, why is it helpful to have such policies online?

Because information is good access. The more information you can provide to people, even if it's to say that there are barriers to access, the better people can plan for their trip.
Secondly, if people have to ask to receive information, that in itself is a barrier. As many of us with anxiety, fatigue, or other disabilities know, it can be difficult to make that phone call or send that email. A lot of us are used to dealing with people on the other end of the line who aren't our allies and might make our lives more difficult when we ask for information.

As and someone working access, do you really want to give out the information again and again? Why not just do it once, and then point people at your webpage or printed materials?

I know there are some conventions that have had good access but don't have their policies online. Open Source Bridge, I'm looking at you. :)

Other conventions have their policies online (good!) but then make all kinds of mistakes with language. They send signals that they really don't want PWDs to attend at all, that they think people are faking disabilities in order to get good seats or other services (no one does this! seriously), and otherwise hostile language.

Several of these pages use the term "special needs". I don't think very many people on this planet have special needs. Most people have the same needs, it's just that some of us need accommodation in order to enjoy the same events at conventions, like getting to the programming rooms in a timely manner, being able to move through the hotel, being able to understand what is going on, being able to visit with friends, etc. I realize special needs is an introduced PC term for disabled people, but I am just not sure that it fits or is accurate. It makes it sound like disabled people want "more" (like champagne) when what we really want is the same stuff as everyone else (water in a glass we can hold).

Whenever you want to say or write "special needs", I suggest you substitute "accommodations" instead.

Let's Break down some of the specific policies and why they are problematic:

DragonCon

"We will have the Con schedule in large print available (to be read at our table or we can email a copy to you to print or download to your screen reading device)

If you have low vision, you better have a device for reading the program. Otherwise, you have to sit at the registration table to read the program! It's apparently too hard for them to print off a few more copies for low-vision attendees. (Remember, this is a for-profit con.) I really don't know why you would want people clustered around your reg desk that way.



We offer 5 stickers for badges, based on needs:

Wheelchair seating: for our wheeled folk, of course.
Chair in Line/End of Row: for non-wheeled folks with mobility impairments.
Proximity/ 50 ft. to Screen: for visual/lip reading access.
Sightlines: for access to the interpreter, safe space for working animals, and certain other unique situations.
Medical: This sticker is merely a place to put emergency information if you have a medical condition that the EMT needs to know about before they put you in the ambulance. It does not entitle you to any other services.

A person has to out themselves in order to get any of these services. It's right there on one's badge: everyone you interact with at the convention then knows you are a disabled person. It also positions whoever gives the sticker as an authority. I know a lot of people with mild hearing loss who don't consider themselves disabled, but who might benefit from line-of-sight seating. Such people wouldn't want to get a sticker even if they might use an otherwise reserved chair.


One important thing to remember: we will do our best to make sure events are accessible to you, but that does not mean we guarantee you a front row seat, or head-of-the-line privileges. If you are going to a very popular event, you must get there extra early to get a good seat, just like everyone else. The accessible seating will not be in the front row.

I guess if you move slowly, are delayed by crowded elevators, etc., you are screwed. Several other websites said this. Maybe these conventions should put a cap on their membership? (Oh wait, DragonCon is for profit.)

Phoenix Comic Con This is the worst one.

You get a special badge! Lucky you.

But the badge doesn't get you:

· Early access to panels and special events
· Guaranteed access into special events, photo ops, autographs, or panels.
· The ability to skip lines

So fuck you I guess! Especially if you are someone who can't stand for a long time!

Service Animals are always welcome at the Phoenix Convention Center. Animals are sometimes questioned if the need is not apparent, so we suggest attendees carry documentation with them for their companion.

Does anyone know if this is actually illegal? It sounds illegal to me. [eta: it is, see comments] Then again, it's Arizona... I don't think "welcome" means what they think it means, also, to be pedantic, you won't get very far questioning an animal!

Some of the other policies are much better, including for ReaderCon, FogCon, and Arisia (and WisCon, but no need to toot my own horn--plus, I always want to improve.) Some suggested bits of activism for those involved with conventions, or even those who aren't but who can do emailing:
*Encourage Conferences and Conventions to develop Access policies and list them online. Professional and Academic conferences, trade shows, etc can be included here.
*Encourage those with bad policies to improve them.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

I don't think I ever posted about WisCon! WisCon 31 was my first one, so I've now been going for 6 years. One of the funny things is, they are starting to run together in my mind. I went to the year-end picnic today for the con com, and I knew I'd been to that same park before for the same event, but couldn't remember which year.

I tried to take it easy this year at WisCon and pace myself. I was exhausted by the end anyway. I didn't go to a ton of panels. Sunday seems to be the day I need a big nap. I went to Pan Morigan's voice workshop on Friday afternoon which was a very useful way to start the convention. This is the same workshop I went to at Think Galacticon and loved so much. In a short amount of time we all seemed to get increased volume and confidence in our voices.

Friday night was the vid party run by futuransky and were-duck. I had a showcase called "the Abuse of Authority"-- vids about power and violence-- which I really enjoyed putting together. We had a panel the next day which was really awesome. You can read more about that at were-duck's journal and you can also find the playlists at wiscon_vidparty. I got to meet chaila on the panel and she talked about her Parables vid (AMAZEBALLS). The audience was really engaged and we had a great time.

I was on a couple of disability panels: 201/Being an Ally (which I overslept and showed up late for), and Assistive Tech is one of my fandoms. I'm starting to feel like I've said what I have to say on this subject.

I'm proud of the essay that I have published in the WisCon Chronicles, edited by Alexis Lothian. This is the first piece of writing I've ever been paid for! There is some really great content in the Chronicles this year, including a very emotional and honest piece by Ian Hageman about his negative experiences with the Clarion Workshops. It takes courage to speak out about such things and I commend him for writing it and the Chronicles for publishing it. There is a piece about class by raanve and wrdnrd, which is one area where I am endeavoring to learn more. I went to their panel "Untangling Class" this year but missed some of the others. I look forward to more of these discussions.

I caught part of an Intersectionality panel that I enjoyed. I value getting to hear experienced activists talk, because I feel like an inexperienced activist in many ways. Jacqueline Gross was on this panel, and responded to a question from the audience about "what do you say to someone who compares their experience of oppression to race, etc?" She gave concrete examples of her life as a black woman; ie, when she calls the cops, she talks in a "talking to white people voice", and if stopped by the cops in a car, she puts her hands on the dash. Someone (in the audience?) said that intersectionality, or a failure thereof, is when you are in a safer space and you feel threatened or attacked regarding one of your other identities. This has definitely happened to me! The panelists talked about the importance of speaking up for other groups of people, and "tag teaming"-- tapping someone else in when you are exhausted. Ian said something about "speaking into a place where the other person can listen" which resonated with me. Sometimes I want to have a conversation at one level, and the other person is not ready to hear it. Overall this panel was great!

Other highlights of the convention were room parties-- I've honestly never been to a private room party before!-- and some nice meals. The hotel restaurant has really good food and service, with and added bonus of being close and being open on Memorial Day. I try to meet new people every year and I did succeed in that. I also enjoyed getting to know some acquaintances better.

Octavia Butler and Emergent Strategies with Adrienne Maree Brown

"All that you touch, you change. All that you change, changes you. The only lasting truth is change. God is change." These words of Octavia E Butler's have impacted people very seriously on a personal level -- but how do we apply her wisdom on a political organizing level? How do we approach the strategic planning we're all supposed to do if we accept, and come to love, the emergent power of changing conditions? This session will be half "popular organizational development" training and half inquiry into what the future of organizational development and strategic planning will look like.

Adrienne returns to these books as her grandfather returns to his Bible.

Strategy is a word of military origin. How do we get away from that. Emergent properties are organic and unpredictable.

From Parables Books: Olamina's journey
Go from relationships to networks rather than relying on physical spaces. These are much harder to destroy.

Olamina sees every person she meets as a potential revolutionary or ally. (We discussed the difference.) Every person is connected and can likely agree on some things.

Some people in the movement may turn against it when under pressure. But we can be less judgmental of that and more understanding of people's circumstances.

Are the people in our movement spiritually aligned? Reclaim this word. We are fighting the religious radical right with politics when we could be meeting a spiritual force with a spiritual force. (My small group also talked about the term "shared values").

Put values before structures in your organization.

Xenogenesis books/Lillith's brood

Focus on Adaptation, and on Lillith's capacity for grief and solitude. What would it mean to be non-dominant? Can you win or succeed from a non-dominant position? What about evolving what it means to be human, expanding that definition?

Patternmaster:

Capacity for connection. Trust and organic hierarchy. Staying under the radar (as activist organizations) until we have the strength to compete as equals.

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In Fantasy, Servitude with N.K. Jemisin.

I didn't get a whole lot out of this discussion. We did come to the conclusion that class is often discussed in fantasy books, and that this genre is a good medium for class discussions. We made fun of the trope of the king who just wants to go back to the simple life of the stable boy (ie man pain). I brought up the trope of how a character will go from a relatively privileged position to being sold into slavery, which Andrea Hairston poked fun at, "I have suffered more!", and I realized this trope could be called "cultural tourism". We also decided that realistic descriptions of slavery simply aren't "fun" and therefore are less likely to be portrayed.
ETA: The military is also service, of course, and Nora talked a bit about child soldiers. Why do they exist, when women make better soldiers physically than kids? Well, if you see women as the prize, or as means to make more children, then kids will be used as soldiers over women.

Books mentioned:
Brian Sanderson's Misborn Trilogy
Tim Powers
Carol Emswhiller, The Mounts
Joel Rosenberg - Hero Series
Robin Hood tales
Firethorn and Wildfire - Sara Micklem
Powers, Gifts, and Voices - Ursula K LeGuin
Between the Rivers - Harry Turtledove
Kraken - China Mieville
Blood Child
Cyteen

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Voice Workshop with Pan Morigan

I can't even express how awesome this was. It was the BEST THING EVER. Your whole body is your instrument. Be silly and have fun and make stupid noises. I also learned how to stand properly, and thereby got taller. I can't even! I've been to all these voice therapists and doctors and other assorted BS, when I should have just come to this. The difference between doing these kind of exercises and ones prescribed by therapists is that these ones are fun. And they feel good.

----
I skipped the next couple of programming slots in favor of a nap. Then I went to the "Redwood and Wildfire" performance by Pan Morigan and Andrea Hairston. It was wonderful.

Create a life for yourself that is more worth living

*Identity
*Desire
*Power

These exist in a Venn diagram. Desire gets the worst rap in society and can mean many things, but she is mostly going to talk about the fucking aspect. She gives a call out to asexuality which gets a big cheer.

In the middle of the diagram should be something like Goddess/God, your heart, compassion. But instead exists:

-Gender
-Race
-Class
-Sexuality
-Ability
-Age
-Religion
-Looks
-Citizenship
-Family and reproductive status
-Language

Each by itself can be fine, but all these things combined can be deadly: they are vectors to rules, hierarchical systems of oppression. Masked by binaries.

Postmodern theory can keep you alive. She gives a 2-minute summary of post-modern theory which basically boils down to "things are more than one/things have more than one interpretation."

Bullies use language to coerce us into being false. Either/Or. She gives some examples. Classic is "man or woman" and they should be separate and equal. She doesn't think this is possible. Riddle of what weighs more? 1 tonne of bricks or 1 tonne of feathers? If you say they weigh the same you are wrong, because as soon as you move, some of the feathers fly off! The only time they weigh the same is IN A VACUUM, and life does not exist in a vacuum!! Others: Real or Fake, Kinky or Vanilla. Many binaries all over!

She lists many identities not covered in LGBTA: feminist, sadomasochist, queer, femme, butch, drag queen or king, intersex, asexual, kinky, queer heterosexuals, poly, gender queer etc, etc. She suggests GASP for Gender Anarchy Sex Positive.

Expression of gender and sexuality constantly shift depending on environment.

The US is the bully of the world. The right wing is defined by the radical right. Where is the radical left movement? Even those on the far left are still operating under the hierarchies of gender, race, class, age, looks, religion, sexuality, ability, citizenship, family and reproductive status, and language. There has never been a coalition that has included all these vectors of oppression.

*When values fail, we go to ethics. When ethics fail, we go to morals: this is where either/or comes from, the 10 commandments kind of things. When morals fail, we go to laws and the criminal justice system.

Somewhere she also talked about her scale of emotions which is in her book Hello Cruel World. She made clear that anger is a lot better place to be than some other emotions. There were some people at this conference that were quite angry: a group of queer people of color talked about how they and trans people and people with disabilities had been marginalized, tokenized, and excluded.

Ready to educate the masses? Many queer and allied people are called upon, formally and informally, to speak about our community and answer a wide variety of questions. This can be an exhausting and daunting task for many, including those new to the idea as well as the veterans. The session will focus on skills and strategies necessary for community members to participate in panels and presentations of any sort. Join us to learn these skills and work with those "difficulty" audience members. This program is for all skill levels and a great tool for any student organization. Presenter: Jess Berndt.

This was a great workshop with a very polished presenter. She spent a lot of time talking about introductions and establishing repoire with the audience. Be authentic and yourself as much as possible, and share as you feel safe. Tell jokes and make a connection with the audience. In an intro, say many different things about yourself, including your other identities, things people can relate to. Provide a hook. What questions do you get asked the most?

Know your audience. "What does LGBT mean to you?" is a good way to test the waters. Some people might not know the acronymns: define your language and terms. She does "pride panels" which are a recruitment tool also.

Don't go to a pride panel when you are tired and stressed-- the audience can tell. Be in right frame of mind and be aware of body language. Tables can be a barrier and create audience apprehension. Your own nervousness about speaking can translate to the audience. Once you get the first couple of questions asked, you're over the main hurdle.

Be prepared. A lot of this is about finding your own voice.

**Don't lessen the impact of difficult stories. When talking about negative life experiences, discrimination, etc, people will try to save emotional face by saying, "but I'm here, I'm OK, I'm fine now." This is a mistake because it communicates that it's somehow OK to treat people this way and lessens the power of the story. They will see that you are here telling your story anyway, despite all of that, and it speaks for itself. Don't waste it -- Use it! (This was a WOW moment for me!!)

Don't be too familiar on panels, such as inside jokes.

The hostile takeover: the agenda hog!

Part of knowing your audience is language and respecting people's identity labels. Call people what they want to be called. Some discussion ensued of language reclamation, insider usage of terms, the fact that not everyone is comfortable with "queer" and other terms. "If there is a big gay caucus on language, where is my invite?" she joked.

I think it was here that someone asked about white supremacy within the community and language, and that did not get answered to my satisfaction. Jess said something about how she tries to include people of color on pride panels and worries that they get exhausted because she's calling on them all the time.

We practiced introducing ourselves to the person next to us. I met an adorable foreign exchange student.

She talked about how the audience is a bell curve: the 15% on either end don't worry about, the one end are going to support you no matter what, the other end are against you no matter what. Focus on the middle 70%, the "movable middle" as I heard it called later.

Dealing with hostile audience members:
--deflect with humor
--example of someone pushing a religious agenda: they are not actually asking a question. Say: "What I'm hearing is that you are a member of a faith community that's not affirming to LGBT people." Address it to the room, not to that person: de-escalate.
--example of the very personal, embarrassing question re sex. "That sounds like a very personal and individualized question and I bet it's different for every person." Also, people can look things up on the internet.

Passing this along:

http://mariness.livejournal.com/818969.html


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For Compare and Contrast,
WisCon's Accessibility Inclusion Statement is here.

If you have specific questions about Access at WisCon, or want to chat about how to make your own favorite convention more accessible, please email access34@wiscon.info.